Amanpour, 68, announced her decision on Monday, describing it as the outcome of months of reflection and personal consideration. She said she was looking forward to exploring new professional opportunities while continuing to support CNN’s commitment to independent journalism.
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” she said in a statement.
The veteran journalist expressed gratitude to the network and the colleagues who had worked with her throughout her career, while reaffirming her commitment to truth and independent reporting.
“I look forward to interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism. Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” she said.
Her departure will mark the end of one of the longest and most influential careers in international television journalism, during which she reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones and interviewed major political leaders and influential public figures.
Amanpour has been a household name in global journalism for decades, earning recognition for her frontline reporting, interviews and coverage of international conflicts, humanitarian emergencies and political developments.
A gradual transition before departure
According to the announcement, Amanpour will gradually reduce her on-air commitments before leaving CNN in June 2027.
Her flagship programme, Amanpour, which has aired on CNN International since 2009, will undergo further changes before concluding in May 2027.
The programme has provided a platform for discussions with world leaders, policymakers, diplomats, activists and other influential figures on issues affecting international affairs.
In January 2025, Amanpour reduced her hosting schedule to a few days each week. From January 2027, the programme is expected to move to a weekly format before its final edition in May.
She will, however, continue reporting for CNN and travelling internationally until June 2027, allowing her to maintain her reporting responsibilities during the final months of her tenure.
Her decision was communicated to CNN employees by the network’s chairman and chief executive, Mark Thompson, in a memo circulated on Monday morning.
Thompson said he had been discussing the matter with Amanpour for several months and acknowledged that her departure would be a significant moment for the organisation.
“Christiane has thought carefully about this decision, and she and I have been discussing it for some months,” Thompson wrote.
“Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally.”
He described Amanpour as “one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere”, adding that CNN would take time to celebrate her achievements before she leaves next year.
“In the meantime, on behalf of the entire CNN leadership team, I want to thank Christiane for 43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship,” Thompson said.
Reporting from the world’s conflict zones
Reflecting on her career, Amanpour highlighted the experiences she shared with CNN’s journalists, producers, camera operators and field crews, particularly during assignments in conflict zones.
She recalled covering the First Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Rwandan genocide, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran, among other major international events.
Her reporting from these locations helped establish her reputation as a journalist willing to work in difficult and dangerous environments to document events and give audiences a clearer understanding of the human consequences of conflict.
“From my very first big exciting assignment covering the First Gulf War, to the horrors of the Bosnian War, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran and all the points in between, it’s the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much,” she said.
Amanpour paid particular tribute to the colleagues who worked alongside her, saying their shared commitment to evidence, facts and human dignity had been central to her professional journey.
“As we together battled to seek the facts, the evidence and the humanity, so that CNN could always broadcast the truth about the world and to the world, without fear nor favor,” she added.
Her statement reflected the principles she has frequently associated with journalism: independence, accountability, factual accuracy and the responsibility to report on events without allowing political or other interests to dictate coverage.
Throughout her career, Amanpour has become closely associated with reporting on war, human rights abuses, political upheaval and humanitarian crises. Her work has taken her across continents, placing her at the centre of coverage of events that have shaped international relations and global public opinion.
PBS programme also set to end
Amanpour’s departure from CNN comes as another programme associated with her career prepares to conclude.
Her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, is scheduled to end in December, according to the announcement.
The programme has extended her international journalism work to American public television, featuring interviews and discussions on politics, culture, global affairs and other major issues.
Despite the planned conclusion of her television commitments, Amanpour has indicated that she intends to remain active in media through other projects.
She said she would continue producing The Ex Files, a podcast she co-hosts with her former husband, Jamie Rubin. The podcast is produced by Global.
The continuation of the podcast suggests that her departure from CNN will not necessarily mark the end of her work in journalism and public affairs.
A major moment for CNN
Amanpour’s planned exit represents a significant transition for CNN, where she has spent more than four decades reporting on events that have defined the modern international landscape.
Her career has spanned wars, political revolutions, humanitarian emergencies and changes in the global media industry. Over that period, she has built a reputation as an influential international correspondent and interviewer whose work has reached audiences across multiple countries.
Her departure also comes at a time when established news organisations are adapting to changing audience habits, digital platforms and growing debates about trust, political influence and the role of journalism in democratic societies.
For CNN, the months leading up to June 2027 will provide an opportunity to recognise Amanpour’s contribution to its international reporting and to prepare for the conclusion of her long-running programme.
Although she has not detailed the new projects she intends to pursue after leaving the network, Amanpour has made clear that she expects to remain engaged in media and journalism.
Her final sign-off in June 2027 will close a 43-year chapter at CNN, but her commitment to reporting, independent journalism and international affairs appears set to continue beyond the network.
